Category: Stock Market

With a strong performance today as we head into the end of trade on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.5% for the week, but these three ASX 200 stocks certainly haven’t helped the recovery.

One of this week’s laggards is a major iron ore miner, the second is a telecommunications company, and the third is a listed exchange group I’m confident you’re well familiar with.

So, which stocks are tumbling amid this week’s rebounding market?

I’m glad you asked!

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

The first stock having a week to forget is Champion Iron.

Champion Iron shares closed last Friday trading for $4.93. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $4.50 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 8.7% for the week.

Shares in the iron ore miner closed down 4.6% on Thursday, and are down another 6.1% today, following the release of the company’s March quarter results.

On the plus side, the miner reported an 8% year-on-year increase in iron ore concentrate production to 3.4 million wet metric tonnes (wmt).

But investors have been favouring their sell buttons, with Champion Iron reporting a 2.3% year-on-year decline in quarterly revenue to US$414.5 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$114.3 million were down a steeper 10.3%.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

Also taking a tumble this week, we have Tuas.

Shares in the Singapore-based telecom stock closed last Friday trading for $2.31, and are currently trading for $2.05 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 11.3% for the week.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from the company this week. But Tuas shares have been under intense selling pressure since 18 May. This follows an admission by the company that its SIMBA mobile business “may have been using radio frequency bands that it was not authorised to use”.

Tuas then terminated its agreement to acquire Singapore telecom company M1 Limited, noting it would not move forward with its intended purchase.

Tuas shares are now down 66.1% since market close on 15 May.

Which brings us to…

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The worst performing ASX 200 stock this week is Australian stock exchange operator ASX Ltd.

ASX shares closed last Friday trading for $59.50. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $45.88.

This sees the ASX share price down a steep 22.9% for the week.

ASX shares closed down 13.2% on Tuesday after the company released an update pointing to a sharp rise in costs in FY 2027.

The telco expects total expenses to increase between 18% and 21% in the financial year ahead, partly driven by ongoing technology investments.

The post Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?
• Warning: Champion Iron shares slide as profits take a hit
• Why ASX, CBA, Endeavour, and Tuas shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new month is almost here and now could be a good time for investors to think about where to put fresh money to work.

While markets may remain volatile, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can offer a simple way to stay invested without relying on a single company to perform.

They can also provide diversification, exposure to long-term themes, and a clear investment strategy in one trade.

Here are three excellent ASX ETFs that could be worth watching closely in June.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The first ASX ETF to watch is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF.

This fund is built around companies with strong financial characteristics. That means businesses with healthy profitability, solid balance sheets, and the ability to generate attractive returns on capital.

That can be a useful approach in uncertain markets. When conditions become tougher, financially strong companies usually have more room to keep investing, protect margins, and defend their market positions.

The fund is not trying to chase every fast-growing company in the world. It is more selective than that. It gives investors exposure to global businesses that have already demonstrated a level of durability.

This could make it useful for someone who wants international growth exposure, but with a quality filter doing part of the work.

VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX: MVW)

Another ASX ETF that could be worth watching is the VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF.

Most Australian share market funds are heavily influenced by the biggest banks and miners. That can be fine when those sectors are performing well, but it also means investors may end up with more concentration than they realise.

This fund takes a different approach by giving companies a more equal weighting. That changes the shape of the exposure and reduces the dominance of the largest names.

It can also give more room for mid-sized companies to influence returns. These businesses may not always make the headlines, but some can have stronger growth profiles than the market’s biggest incumbents.

The fund will still move with the Australian share market. But its structure gives investors a different way to own local shares without relying so heavily on the usual giants.

BetaShares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

A third ASX ETF to watch in June is the BetaShares India Quality ETF.

India has become one of the most closely watched growth markets in the world, supported by a large population, rising incomes, expanding digital adoption, and increasing economic influence.

This fund focuses on Indian companies with strong quality characteristics, rather than simply chasing the biggest businesses in the market. That can help investors gain exposure to long-term growth trends while still applying a quality filter.

Emerging markets can be volatile, and investors should expect periods of sharp market swings. But for those wanting exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, this ETF could add an interesting international growth angle to a portfolio.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs to watch in June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX ETFs I’d buy for retirement investing
• 3 ASX ETFs that could help investors tap into global growth
• Three unique ASX ETFs to target the ASX 200 
• 3 ASX ETFs that could be top picks for beginners
• How beginners could go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Friday has delivered a much stronger finish to the week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.24% to 8,699.3 points.

The rally comes after a rough session on Thursday, when the ASX 200 fell 1.43% as a spike in oil prices and renewed US-Iran tensions hit investor sentiment.

Nonetheless, the index has clawed back part of that fall today, helped by less pressure across commodity markets and a strong night on Wall Street.

Reuters reported that oil prices were heading for a weekly fall as traders weighed the possibility of lower geopolitical risk.

US markets also gave local investors something to work with, with major share market indices pushing to record highs overnight. That helped offset some of Thursday’s pain, when elevated oil prices weighed on risk sentiment.

Miners lead the rebound

The strongest buying is coming through the resources sector, with the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) up 2.3%.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has been among the major contributors, with its shares up 1.9% to $62.45.

Gold miners have also helped lift the index, with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) up 5.7% to $19.91, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) up 5.2% to $12.26, and Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) up 3.8% to $155.16.

Property and infrastructure names are also adding support. Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) is up 1.2% to $31.13, while Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is 1.3% higher at $14.54.

The banks are also adding support, though their moves are more modest.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is climbing 0.5% to $162.26, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is 0.5% higher at $36.09, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is up around 0.3% to $37.22, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is lifting 0.9% to $35.20.

Why investors are buying again

Today’s rally suggests buyers are starting to return to the market after Thursday’s sell-off.

The US-Iran situation remains volatile, and oil prices can change quickly when headlines shift. But investors appear more comfortable buying back into the market after Wall Street hit fresh highs and crude prices lost some of their heat.

The index is now up 0.90% over the past week, but it’s still slightly lower over the past month and for 2026. Over the past year, the ASX 200 remains up about 3.44%.

The next test is whether today’s rebound can hold if oil prices turn higher again over the weekend.

The post ASX 200 storms higher as investors pile back into miners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Chorus’s 2025 regulatory report: RAB grows, revenue falls short
• Judo upsizes $750m securitisation to boost capital and ROE
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 1.4% higher at 8,716.8 points amid fresh hopes of a US-Iran deal.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continued confidence in several ASX 200 shares, issuing renewed buy calls this week.

Let’s review.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The Goodman share price is $31.39, up 2% today.

The ASX 200 real estate share has risen 2% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Goodman shares on Thursday.

The broker raised its 12-month share price target from $32.45 to $36.

This suggests a potential 15% upside ahead.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price is $35.27, up 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 bank share has fallen 2.5% over the past month.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $40 on Monday.

This implies potential capital gains of 13% ahead.

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

The Ora Banda share price is $1.37, up 7.6% today.

This ASX 200 gold share has fallen 10.9% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating with a $2.25 target this week.

This implies a potential 64% upside ahead.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

The Codan share price is $42.13, up 2.7% today.

This ASX 200 tech share has rocketed 45% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity reaffirmed its buy rating with a 12-month target of $47.05.

This suggests a potential 11% upside ahead.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is $1.56, up 12% today.

This ASX bank share has fallen 14% YTD.

Citi renewed its buy rating on Judo shares with a $2.20 target today.

This implies potential capital growth of 40% over the next year.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $72.99, up 3.1% today.

This ASX 200 mining share is up 32% YTD.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares this week.

The broker raised its share price target from $73 to $83.

This implies potential capital growth of 14% over the next year.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $10.99, up 8.8%.

This ASX 200 travel share is down 27% YTD.

Jefferies has reaffirmed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares with a $14 target.

This suggests a potential 28% capital gain ahead. 

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman y Gomez share price is $19.49, up 0.5% today.

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 16% over six months.

Last week, the Mexican restaurant chain upgraded its earnings guidance and announced it was exiting the US.

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Guzman y Gomez shares on Monday.

The broker upped its price target from $26.70 to $29.40.

This suggests a potential 50% upside ahead.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The Santos share price is $7.77, down 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 energy share has lifted 26% due to higher oil and gas prices in 2026.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Santos shares with a $8.60 target on Thursday.

This suggests a potential 11% upside ahead.

The post 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 4DMedical, Elsight, Judo Capital, and Northern Star shares are racing higher today
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Which ASX 200 bank stock is jumping 12% on big news?
• 3 ASX shares that could benefit most if the US-Iran peace deal holds
• Forget DroneShield and EOS, could this ASX 200 defence stock be one of the best to buy?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 1.2% higher at 8,695.9 points on Friday.

The US and Iran are reportedly close to an agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and potentially reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the benchmark index remains in the red for 2026, down 0.3%.

Brokers have reduced their ratings on several stocks this week.

Let’s take a look.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)

The AGL share price is $8.64, up 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 utilities share has fallen 8.9%.

Ord Minnett downgraded AGL shares from buy to hold this week.

The broker cut its price target from $13.25 to $11.75.

This still implies a healthy potential upside of 36% ahead.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin Energy share price is $10.85, down 0.4% today.

This ASX 200 utilities share has fallen 9.9% over the past month.

Ord Minnett also downgraded Origin Energy shares from hold to lighten this week.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $11 to $10.40.

This indicates a possible 4% downside over the next year.

Ord Minnett explained the downgrades in a note:

Ord Minnett sees increasing downside risk to AGL Energy and Origin Energy as electricity market transition dynamics evolve less favourably than had been anticipated.

Our central thesis is that battery capacity in the National Electricity Market (NEM) is being deployed materially faster than required in the absence of corresponding coal-fired generation retirements.

This excess flexibility is suppressing price volatility, reducing the earnings potential for batteries and other flexible generation assets such as gas peakers and hydro.

Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

The Adore Beauty share price is steady at 31 cents today.

The ASX consumer discretionary share has lost 76% of its valuation in 2026.

Bell Potter downgraded Adore Beauty shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $1 to 39 cents.

This suggests a potential 26% upside ahead.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is $16.74, up 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 industrial share has fallen 27% in 2026 so far.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Brambles shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $28 to $19.

This still suggests capital growth of 13% over the next year.

Abacus Group (ASX: ABG)

The Abacus Group share price is $1.02, up 3.6% today.

In 2026 so far, this ASX property share has fallen 15%.

Shaw and Partners downgraded Abacus Group shares to a hold rating yesterday.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $1.05, implying the stock is fully valued now.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brambles shares have been smashed. Is this the support level to watch?
• Should you buy AGL and Origin Energy shares?
• AGL Energy shares tumble 19% from their peak: Buy, sell or hold?
• Down 70% in six months: What is Bell Potter saying about this ASX share?
• Why are Adore Beauty shares charging higher today?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX small-cap stock Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) shares are sliding on Friday after the infant nutrition company released a FY26 trading update.

At the time of writing, the Bubs share price is down 3.19% to 9.1 cents.

Today’s fall adds to a difficult recent run for shareholders. Bubs shares are now down around 17% over the past month and 34% in 2026.

The stock is also trading near the bottom of its 52-week range of 9.1 cents to 19 cents.

So, what has investors selling today?

Guidance points to more pressure

According to the release, Bubs now expects FY26 revenue of $105 million to $115 million.

The company said this still shows underlying growth, but the market appears more focused on the headwinds sitting behind the update.

Reported EBITDA is expected to land between a $2 million loss and a $2 million profit. Underlying EBITDA is expected to be between $4 million and $8 million.

Sales and earnings have been hit by several external factors.

Bubs pointed to evolving regulatory requirements, product availability constraints, geopolitical disruption in the Middle East, higher air freight use, and competitive pressures.

The company is still growing, but getting product into the right markets has become more expensive and complicated.

The US remains the key market

Demand for Bubs products remains in place, with the United States continuing to be its strongest growth market.

Chief executive Joe Coote said the company has taken a careful approach to managing its supply chain in a more complex external environment.

He noted that Bubs has been using air freight to support restocking in the United States. That extra cost is now winding down as the company continues to prioritise customer service.

Bubs said it remains on track to achieve ranging in more than 10,000 stores in July 2026.

Wider distribution in the US gives the company a bigger addressable market, but it also raises the pressure to execute well.

Foolish takeaway

Bubs remains a small-cap consumer stock with a market capitalisation of about $82 million.

That can make the share price sensitive to any change in expectations, especially when investors are already nervous.

The company has a strong brand in infant nutrition and exposure to large offshore markets, including the US and China. But today’s update shows growth is still coming with extra cost and operational risk.

The next test is whether Bubs can turn its wider US store footprint into stronger sales, while keeping a tighter hold on costs.

The post This ASX small-cap stock is sliding after a tough FY26 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market?
• 3 excellent ASX ETFs to watch in June
• ASX 200 storms higher as investors pile back into miners
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by brokers this week

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.2% to 8,698.3 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

The Champion Iron share price is down 6% to $4.49. This morning, Bell Potter responded to the iron ore producer’s results by retaining its hold rating with a reduced price target of $4.85. It said: “CIA expect to ramp-up high-grade concentrate (DRPF grade) production from mid2026. While we expect iron content price premiums for this product, full value-in-use premiums are unlikely to be realised until longer-term offtake is secured. Free cash flow should improve from FY27 as capex rolls off, supporting debt servicing and ongoing dividends. On valuation, we retain our Hold recommendation.”

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

The IDP Education share price is down 15% to $2.25. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Macquarie. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the language testing and student placement company’s shares to an underperform rating (from neutral) with a reduced price target of $2.35 (from $5.45). The broker made the move on the belief that IDP Education could fall short of expectations partly due to weak student visa volumes.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

The Tuas share price is down a further 1.5% to $2.06. Investors have been selling down this Singapore-based telco’s shares this week after it terminated its proposed S$1.4 billion acquisition of M1 Limited. Tuas made the move after authorities learned that its Simba business may have been using radio frequency bands it was not authorised to use. To fund the acquisition, Tuas undertook a A$416 million capital raising at $5.51 per new share.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down over 1% to $30.29. Investors have been selling energy shares today amid news that the US and Iran are closing in on a deal to extend their ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. If oil starts flowing through the strait again, it could put significant pressure on oil prices. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 1% at the time of writing.

The post Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• After a 20% drop to a 12-month low, is it time to buy IDP Education shares?
• 3 ASX shares that could benefit most if the US-Iran peace deal holds
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?
• Buy, hold, sell: Kingsgate, Metcash, Woodside shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is ending the week in a positive session. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 1.2% to 8,698.9 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are racing higher:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 12% to $3.74. This follows news that the respiratory imaging technology provider has signed a commercial agreement with SimonMed Imaging. It is one of the leading outpatient medical imaging providers in the United States. 4DMedical’s CEO and founder, Andreas Fouras, said: “SimonMed is one of the largest and most influential outpatient imaging providers in the United States. Their decision to adopt CT:VQ, moving directly to commercial deployment, is a major milestone for 4DMedical and a strong validation of both our technology and our clinical value. In just months since FDA clearance, we have established CT:VQ across leading Academic Medical Centers and are now extending into large-scale imaging networks. This agreement demonstrates that adoption by world-class clinical innovators is translating directly into commercial uptake across high-volume providers.”

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)

The Elsight share price is up 16% to $7.36. Investors have been buying the global enablement technologies provider’s shares after it received a major follow-on order. Elsight advised that a U.S. based commercial customer in the public safety sector has placed a follow-on order valued at approximately US$2 million (~A$2.8 million). The company’s CEO, Yoav Amitai, said: “A U.S Public safety customer increasing their order within months signals strong conviction, highlighting the Company’s operational validation and commercial traction. Public safety agencies are preparing for scaled BVLOS operations and selecting technology partners that meet the highest standards of reliability and compliance.”

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo Capital share price is up 12% to $1.56. This small business lender’s shares are lifting off today after it successfully priced a $750 million capital-relief securitisation transaction backed by small and medium enterprise (SME) business loans. It notes that following the transaction, Judo Capital will generate a significant net interest margin on the underlying business loans without needing to hold capital for these assets. Judo Capital’s CEO, Chris Bayliss, said: “We are very pleased with the strong support received for this transaction from a broad range of domestic and international investors. The transaction strengthens Judo’s CET1 position and increases our flexibility to support continued lending growth, while also improving ROE.”

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is up over 4% to $19.01. Investors have been buying gold miners today after progress appeared to be made with US-Iran peace talks. This put pressure on oil prices, which has lowered interest rate hike expectations, boosting the allure of gold.

The post Why 4DMedical, Elsight, Judo Capital, and Northern Star shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star, Evolution Mining and Newmont shares look like bargain buys now
• 4DMedical shares jump 11% as investors cheer major US agreement
• Which ASX 200 bank stock is jumping 12% on big news?
• Guess which ASX defence stock is rocketing 17% to a record high on Friday
• Judo upsizes $750m securitisation to boost capital and ROE

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are lifting off today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) drone defence company closed yesterday trading for $3.19. In earlier trade on Friday, shares just jumped to $3.56, up 11.4%. After some likely profit taking, at time of writing shares are changing hands for $3.40 apiece, up 6.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.0% at this same time.

While stockholders have had to endure significant volatility this past year, those who stuck with it will have watched their DroneShield shares gain 163.6% over the last 12 months.

Here’s what may be helping lift the ASX 200 stock again today.

Why are DroneShield shares outperforming?

Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine alongside the simmering Middle East conflict have spotlighted the rapid rise of drone warfare, and the accompanying need for drone defence systems.

Indeed, the latest United States defence budget contains a request for US$75 billion to fund drones and counter-drone technologies. And this is just one nation.

In the latest news that could be piquing investor interest in DroneShield shares today, Bloomberg reports that US President Donald Trump’s administration is looking into potentially helping fund domestic drone technology companies.

Talks between drone makers and the Federal government were said to be ongoing.

While DroneShield was not named among the companies that may get US government funding, the broader implications for the ASX 200 stock are bullish.

According to Needham & Co analyst Austin Bohlig (quoted by Bloomberg):

The growing focus on defence technology and autonomous systems reflects how rapidly modern warfare has evolved, with drones and low-cost autonomous platforms increasingly becoming central to future military operations.

Pointing to the strong global demand for drones, which could help DroneShield shares deliver another year of strong performance, Eric Sterner, chief investment officer at Apollon Wealth added, “Drones will continue to play an integral part of countries’ defence budgets for surveillance as well as for battle usage.”

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 drone defence stock?

DroneShield reported its March quarter (Q1 2026) results on 22 April.

Over the three months to 31 March, DroneShield reported revenue of $74.1 million, up 121% from Q1 2025. Customer cash receipts of $77.4 million were up 360% year on year.

With the company’s cash balance growing 13% to $222.8 million, and no debt, at quarter end, management said DroneShield is well-funded to pursue its ongoing growth plans. The ASX 200 stock recently added new regional manufacturing plants in Europe and the US.

Amid high market expectations, DroneShield shares closed up a modest 0.5% on the day of the results release.

The post Is this why DroneShield shares are rocketing another 11% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Forget DroneShield and EOS, could this ASX 200 defence stock be one of the best to buy?
• DroneShield shares in focus amid FIFA World Cup update
• Why I’d buy DroneShield, CSL, and WiseTech shares right now
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Trading in Dexus (ASX: DXS) shares has been paused on Friday as investors wait for more details on a court judgement involving its airport interests.

The Dexus share price is currently halted at $5.93.

That’s where the stock closed on Thursday after falling 1% for the session. It has also been a difficult year so far, with Dexus shares down around 14% in 2026.

The halt was requested before the market opened, with Dexus telling the ASX it was waiting on a Supreme Court of New South Wales judgement linked to proceedings involving the company.

Under the ASX notice, trading is expected to resume by Tuesday, 2 June, unless Dexus releases its announcement earlier.

So, what’s going on?

Court blow over Dexus’ airport interests

The issue relates to Dexus’ interest in Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), the owner of Melbourne Airport and Launceston Airport.

Dexus manages funds that own about 27% of APAC. Reuters reported last year that Dexus could be forced to divest the stake after APAC’s board alleged breaches of confidentiality agreements.

According to The Australian, Dexus has now lost its legal case and must sell the entire stake it controls in the airports.

The report said Dexus had taken action in the NSW Supreme Court to prevent being forced to sell out of the full stake.

The dispute followed an earlier attempt to sell a near 10% interest in the company that owns the airports.

The push to force a sale was driven by funds manager IFM, which is backed by major superannuation names including Australian Super, ART, Cbus, and UniSuper.

Other co-owners include the Future Fund, SAS Trustee, represented by NSW TCorp, and the Utilities of Australia vehicle managed by HRL Morrison and Co.

The Dexus-managed funds’ APAC interests have been reported as worth up to $4.5 billion.

Why investors are watching closely

This is a sensitive issue because Dexus is not just a landlord.

The company describes itself as a real asset group with a platform spanning listed property, funds management, infrastructure, alternatives, and other investments. Dexus says its wider platform manages a $51.5 billion Australasian real estate and infrastructure portfolio.

A forced sale of the APAC stake would therefore sit right at the centre of the group’s funds management and infrastructure ambitions.

It also comes at a time when the share price is already under pressure.

The stock has fallen over the past year and remains close to the lower end of its 52-week range. Dexus has traded between $5.82 and $7.73 over the past year, leaving the current halted price of $5.93 only slightly above that low.

The company has also been dealing with a difficult backdrop for listed property stocks, where higher rates and valuation pressure have weighed on investor confidence.

What comes next?

The next step is Dexus’ formal update to the market.

Investors will be looking for details on whether Dexus will appeal, how any sale process may work, and what the financial impact could be.

They will also want to know whether the ruling changes the outlook for management fees, fund relationships, or future infrastructure ambitions.

Until the announcement lands, the share price will remain frozen at $5.93.

The post This ASX stock is frozen after major airport court setback appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.